Our people in the Centre for Theology and Public Issues

David Tombs- Director

David Tombs took up the Director role at the Centre and the Howard Paterson Chair of Theology and Public Issues in January 2015. He has a longstanding interest in contextual and liberation theologies and is author of Latin American Liberation Theologies (Brill, 2002). His current research focusses on religion, violence, and public theology, and especially on Christian responses to gender-based violence, sexual abuse and torture. He especially welcomes proposals for Ph.D. projects in these areas. Previously David was a Lecturer in Theology at the University of Roehampton London (1992-2001). From 2001-2014 he lived and worked in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as Assistant Professor of Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation for the Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College Dublin.

Derek Woodard-Lehman - Lecturer

Derek Woodard-Lehman studied theology, philosophy, ethics, and politics at Duke University and Princeton Theological Seminary. He has taught at Princeton University and the Lutheran Seminary at Philadelphia. He has been a fellow of the Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies and the Louisville Institute. And he published over a dozen articles and chapters.

Administrative Assistant

CTPI Research Affiliates 2017-2019

Dr Mercy Ah Siu-Maliko

Dr Mercy Ah Siu-Maliko is a Lecturer at Piula Theological College and a Research Affiliate at the Centre for Theology and Public Issues. She is currently lead researcher for the Fola le ta’ui a le Atua: Rolling Out the Mat of Scripture project (August 2017-October 2018) funded by the New Zealand Institute for Pacific Research.

Dr Alistair Reese

Dr Alistair Reese is a public theologian as well as a farmer and historian. Alistair’s research focusses on Te Tiriti/Treaty of Waitangi as a doorway to reconciliation in Aotearoa New Zealand. His writing includes a particular emphasis on Pākehā identity and how we can live in a colonised land. He holds postgraduate degrees in History and Tikanga Māori including a PhD in Theology from University of Auckland. He lives near Te Puke in the district of Tapuika/Waitaha.

Dr Andrew Shepherd

Dr Andrew Shepherd is a former Research & Teaching Fellow at the Centre for Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago. He is is the Co-Director of Christian conservation organisation, A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand, and also teaches theology and ethics for a range of NZ and US tertiary institutions. In 2017-19 he will be involved in projects on Creation and Hope and Face to Face Encounters: Theological and Ethical Reflections.